Romania: NPP Cernavoda unit 1 will enter overhaul in June

21. May 2020. / SEE Energy News

This year, Romanian electricity producer Nuclearelectrica decided to postpone the planned maintenance of unit 1 of NPP Cernavoda. The decision to postpone the planned overhaul of unit 1 of NPP Cernavoda was determined by the current context of the coronavirus outbreak, corroborated with the measures related to the plan for ensuring the protection of personnel and the continuity of operation and production. Nuclearelectrica said that unit 1 of its nuclear power plant Cernavoda will enter planned overhaul on 20 June, which will last for 42 days.

These overhauls of nuclear reactors are carried out alternately, once every two years for each reactor, usually during spring.

The absence of about 700 MW in the national generation mix could create some space for coal-based Energy Complex (EC) Oltenia to increase its production. Since the beginning of the year, Nuclearelectrica’s 1,400 MW have covered between 16 % (in peak demand periods during January) and 31 % of national consumption (in the days with the lowest demand). It remains to be seen whether these missing 700 MW will be covered by imports, by an increase in coal-based production or by additional generation from other sources, such as hydropower and/or wind.